Device for Aiding the Removal of a Bag from a Container

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a device for aiding the removal of a bag from a container. The device comprises a body having a rear wall and a plurality of side walls that define a receiving area. A lever is pivotably coupled to the body of the device and the lever pivots from a raised position whereby the lever is disposed in the receiving area to a lowered position. Pressure can be applied to the lever in the lowered position to substantially prevent the container from lifting upwards as the bag is lifted from inside the container. The device also comprises a mechanism for removably mounting the body to the container so that the device can be reused and/or used on multiple containers.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a step device, and in particular to a step device that can be mounted to a container.

Containers are often used in homes and businesses for storing objects such as decorations, equipment, tools, toys, trash and other objects. These containers generally can be lined on the interior with paper or plastic bags for maintaining the integrity and cleanliness of the container while also allowing the paper or plastic bag to be removable and disposed of or placed elsewhere. Problems often arise, however, when the paper or plastic bag becomes full of items and the bag needs to be replaced. In many instances, the items being held within the paper or plastic bag are very heavy and makes lifting the bag out of the container very difficult. The weight of the items in the bag are generally heavier than the container itself. It is common for the items in the bag to push the bag outwards against the inner wall(s) of the container such that as the bag is lifted from the container, the container moves in the same upward direction as the bag. Since the items within the bag are heavy, a person removing the bag must use both hands to do so and there is no means for holding the container to the floor. Therefore, a need exists for providing a step or other means for holding the container down while the paper or plastic bag is removed. In particular, a need exists for providing a step or means for holding the container down and which can be easily removed and coupled to a plurality of containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a device for aiding the removal of bags from a container, wherein the device includes a body and a lever such that the body can be coupled to the container.

In one aspect of the present invention, a device for aiding the removal of a bag from a container is provided and it includes a body having at least one wall. A lever is pivotably coupled to the body such that the lever pivots between a raised position in which the lever is disposed substantially adjacent to the at least one wall and a lowered position in which the lever has pivoted away from the at least one wall. The device further includes a mechanism for removably mounting the body to the container such that the mechanism couples to the rear wall.

In a different aspect, a method is provided for removing a bag from a container in which a device is provided for aiding in the removal of the bag. The device comprises a body having at least one wall and a lever that is pivotably coupled to the body such that the lever pivots between a raised position in which the lever is disposed substantially parallel to the body and a lowered position in which the lever has moved away from the body. The device further includes a mechanism for removably mounting the body to the container. The method comprises pivoting the lever from the raised position to the lowered position, applying pressure to the lever to substantially hold the container to the ground, lifting the bag from the container, and removing the bag from the inside of the container.

In another aspect of the present invention, a container assembly is provided and it comprises a housing having an open end and a closed end. The container assembly further includes a device for aiding the removal of a bag from the interior of the housing, wherein the device comprises a body that is removably mounted to the housing and a lever that is pivotably coupled to the body such that the lever pivots between a raised position in which the lever is disposed substantially parallel to the body and a lowered position in which the lever has moved away from the body.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned aspects of the present invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a device for aiding the removal of a bag from the interior of a container with a lever of the device being in a lowered position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 from the rear;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with the lever being in a raised position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container for holding a bag and includes a device for aiding the removal of the bag from the container with a lever of the device being in a lowered position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 4 in which the lever is in a raised position; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of a container for holding a bag and includes a plurality of devices for aiding the removal of the bag from the container.

Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention.

Broadly, the present invention provides a device that can be removably mounted to a container or trash can, for example, such that the device includes a lever that pivots from a raised position to a lowered position. In the lowered position, weight can be applied to the lever to keep the container grounded as a bag is removed from the interior of the container. More than one device can be mounted to the container to allow an individual to place two feet on each lever in the lowered position to help remove the bag.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a device 2 for aiding in the removal of a bag is illustrated in FIG. 1. The device 2 comprises a body 4 which includes at least one wall. In FIG. 1, the body 4 has a rear wall 3 and a plurality of side walls 5, the rear wall 3 and side walls 5 define a receiving area 8 in which a lever 6 may be disposed therein (see FIG. 3). The lever 6 can pivot between a raised position (FIG. 3) and a lowered position (FIG. 1). While the body 4 in FIG. 1 comprises both a rear wall 3 and side walls 5, it is possible to have only one wall which may or may not be planar.

In one embodiment, the lever 6 pivots about rivets 10 which can be used to pivotably couple the body 4 to the lever 6. In this particular embodiment, the rivets 10 pass through an opening in an ear 12 of the side wall 5. The ear 12 protrudes away from the side wall 5 as in FIG. 1 and gives the side wall an L-shaped appearance. In FIG. 1, the ear 12 and side wall 5 are comprised of the same piece of material. However, in alternative embodiments, the ear 12 may be separate from the side wall 5 such that the ear 12 couples or fastens to the side wall 5. The ear 12 allows the lever 6 to pivot freely about the rivets without contacting the rear wall 3. In general, the lever is free to pivot more than 180°, although with most standard containers that include side walls which are perpendicular to the ground the lever only needs to pivot approximately 90°. It will also be appreciated that the side wall 5 may comprise the opening for rivets 10 without requiring ear 12. Further, as mentioned above, the side wall(s) 5 are not required and the lever 6 can be hingedly coupled to the rear wall 3 (for example, in those embodiments in which the body 4 includes only one wall).

Although the embodiment in FIG. 1 shows rivets 10 for pivotably coupling the lever 6 to the body 4, other means can be used for providing the pivoting connection between the lever 6 and body 4. For example, a cylindrical rod (not shown) can screw into two bolts or screws at each side wall 5 of the body 4 and the lever 6 can pivot about the rod like a hinge. In another embodiment, the lever 6 may include threaded openings for a bolt or screw to screw into the lever. In this embodiment, the lever 6 and bolt or screw would pivot relative to the body 4. Other similar fasteners and/or axle-like assemblies known to the skilled artisan including hinges may be used as well.

The lever 6 can be any shape known to the skilled artisan. In FIG. 1, the lever is rectangularly-shaped and includes a pivot end 11 and a step end 13. The pivot end 11 pivotably couples to the side walls 5 of the body 4 and the step end 13 moves about angle θ between the raised position and the lowered position. In the raised position of FIG. 3, the step end 13 and pivot end 11 are disposed in the receiving area 8, whereas in the lowered position of FIG. 1, the step end 13 has moved outside of the receiving area 8.

In the raised position, the lever 6 may be held or biased into the receiving area 8 by a tab 9 which protrudes into the receiving area 8 from the side wall 5. The tab 9 may comprise any material including the same material as the side wall 5. In one embodiment, the body 4 including the tab 9 is made from a plastic material. In other embodiments, the body 4 may be plastic and the tab 9 may be any elastic material known to the skilled artisan that compresses or elastically deforms when the lever 6 is in the raised position. The tab 9 can be positioned along the side wall 5 such that the lever 6 moves past the tab 9 in the raised position. Alternatively, in a different embodiment, the tab 9 may hold the lever 6 in the raised position by applying a normally-oriented pressure against the lever. In a further embodiment, the lever 6 may include a slot or gap in which the tab 9 may slideably engage into when the lever 6 is in the raised position. Additionally, the lever 6 and/or body 4 may include a magnet or clasp for holding the lever 6 in the raised position.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the top surface of the lever 6 may include a textured surface 14. The textured surface 14 may comprise any material known to the skilled artisan for providing friction between the lever 6 and a shoe, for example. The textured surface 14 can be integral to the lever 6 (i.e., as part of a molding process) or it can be separate from the lever 6 and simply added as an additional layer upon the top surface of the lever 6. In the latter instance, the textured surface 14 can be glued or coupled to the lever 6 to prevent the textured surface from sliding or moving off the lever 6. When the device 2 is being used, a user pivots the lever 6 from the raised position to the lowered position. The user may apply downward pressure on the lever 6, for example, by standing on the top surface of the lever 6. To enhance the grip or friction between the user's foot and the lever 6, the textured surface 14 is provided for achieving this function. This may be important when a container is outside in the rain or snow and additional grip is necessary between a user's foot and the lever 6.

In an exemplary embodiment, the step end 13 of the lever 6 may comprise a recessed portion 16 as shown in FIG. 1. The step end 13 may have an upper lip 15 and a lower lip 17 that define the recessed portion 16. The recessed portion 16 may be rectangular, cylindrical, or any other shape known to the skilled artisan. When the lever 6 is in the raised position of FIG. 3, an object such as a user's shoe may be inserted into the recessed portion 16 of the lever 6 and used to pivot the lever 6 from the raised position to the lowered position. Additionally, when the lever 6 is in the lowered position, the object may be inserted into the recessed portion 16 to help return the lever 6 to the raised position. In a different embodiment, the step end 13 may not include the recessed portion 16, but rather includes a step or tab (not shown) that extends away from the step end 13 and opposite the pivot end 11. When pressure is applied to the step or tab, the lever 6 can be pivoted from the raised position to the lowered position and vice versa. For example, in the lowered position, a user's foot can slide underneath the step or tab to apply upwards pressure to move the lever 6 to the raised position. This feature allows an elderly person or one who has trouble bending over to lower and raise the lever 6 without having to bend over. Other similar features may be incorporated into the device 2 to assist with the raising and lowering of the lever 6. For example, cabinet door fasteners may be used with the device 2 in which a user may push once to release the lever and twice to lock the lever in place. One skilled in the art may appreciate other means for locking and releasing the lever 6 to the body 4.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the device 2 may include a mechanism 18 for removably mounting the body 4 to a container or trash can. As shown in FIG. 2, this mechanism 18 may be coupled to the rear wall 3 of the body 4. The mechanism 18 may be a two-sided piece of adhesive tape that adheres to the rear wall 3 and to a wall of the container. In a different embodiment, the mechanism 18 may include nuts and bolts for coupling the device 2 to a container. In another embodiment, the device 2 can be adhered directly to the container and the mechanism 18 comprises a glue or adhesive. Additionally, the mechanism 18 may comprise a magnet for coupling to the body such that the magnet removably mounts the device 2 to the container. It may be further possible for the mechanism 18 to include a curved piece (not shown) that can either be coupled or fixed to the body 4 of the device suct that the curved piece can attach directly to a cylindrical container, for example. The mechanism 18 may include any means for removably mounting the device 2 to a container known to the skilled artisan.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 4-5, a device 2 is provided for aiding the removal of a bag (not shown) from a container assembly 20. The device 2 is mounted to a surface 22 of the container assembly 20 such that the device 2 can be removed and mounted to a different surface or to a different container. The reusability of the device 2 can save the user money from having to purchase new containers with similar devices built into the container. It also adds flexibility and allows the user to use one assembly for multiple containers.

The container assembly 20 may be any size from a small container (i.e., a small waste basket of 3-5 gallons) to a large container (i.e., 30 or more gallons). The container assembly 20 may also be made from any material including plastic, aluminum, steel, or other similar materials known to one skilled in the art. The size of the device 2 for aiding the removal of a bag from the container may also be of different sizes. In general, the size of the device 2 may be proportional to the size of the container assembly 20. For example, a larger container may have a larger device 2, whereas a smaller container may have a smaller device 2. In one embodiment, the body may be 3″ long and less than 2″ wide and the lever may approximately the same length but a smaller width.

In FIG. 6, a container assembly 20 is provided. The container assembly includes a housing having an open end 21, a closed end 23, and at least one outer surface 22. In one embodiment, the open end 21 has a larger diameter than the closed end 23 and the outer surface 22 tapers inward from the open end 21 to the closed end 23. In a different embodiment, the open end 21 has a smaller diameter than the closed end 23 and the outer surface 22 tapers outward from the open end 21 to the closed end 23. In an alternative embodiment, the open end 21 and closed end 23 may have substantially equal diameters and the outer surface 22 may be perpendicular to the ground in which the closed end 23 rests upon.

More than one of the devices 2 for aiding the removal of a bag from the housing can also be provided. These devices 2 each include a body 4 and a lever 6, wherein the lever 6 pivots from a raised position to a closed position. When the closed end 23 of the housing is resting on the ground, the lever 6 may be pivoted angle θ between the raised position and the lowered position. In the lowered position, the lever 6 may come into contact with the ground. In the embodiment in which the open end 21 has a larger diameter than the closed end 23, a user may pivot the lever 6 less than 90° between the raised position and the lowered position. In the embodiment in which the closed end 23 has a larger diameter than the open end 21, a user may pivot the lever more than 90° but generally less than 180°. In the alternative embodiment in which the open end 21 and closed end 23 have substantially the same diameters, a user may pivot the lever about 90°.

Thus, once a user pivots the lever(s) 6 from the raised position to the lowered position, the bag can be removed from the container assembly 20. To do so, downward pressure is applied to the lever(s) 6 to keep the container 20 from lifting up as the bag is lifted from the container. As described above, a user can stand on the lever(s) 6 and then lift the bag and remove it from inside the container 20. As also described above, the top surface of the lever(s) 6 may include a textured or friction-enhancing surface layer 14 to increase the grip between the user's foot and the lever 6. Additionally, the lever(s) 6 may include a recessed portion 16 or a step or tab in which an object may be used for lifting or lowering the lever(s) 6.

While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims. 

1. A device for aiding the removal of a bag from a container, the device comprising: a body having at least one wall; a lever being pivotably coupled to the body, wherein the lever pivots between a raised position in which the lever is disposed substantially parallel to the body and a lowered position in which the lever has pivoted away from the body; and a mechanism for removably mounting the body to the container.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall includes a tab for securing the lever in the raised position.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the lever comprises a surface with a friction-enhancing material for applying pressure thereto.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a rivet for pivotably coupling the lever to the body.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises an adhesive tape for removably mounting the body to the container.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a magnet for removably mounting the body to the container.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the lever comprises a pivot end being pivotably coupled to the body and a step end being opposite the pivot end, the step end moving between the raised position and the lowered position.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the step end includes a recessed portion configured for receiving an object to assist with the pivoting of the step end.
 9. A method for removing a bag from a container comprising: providing a device removably mounted to the container comprising a body having at least one wall, the wall contacting the container, a lever pivotably coupled to the body, wherein the lever pivots between a raised position and a lowered position; pivoting the lever from the raised position to the lowered position; applying pressure to the lever to substantially hold the container to the ground; lifting the bag from the container; and removing the bag from the inside of the container.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the applying pressure step further comprises stepping onto a friction-enhancing surface of the lever.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the lever comprises a pivot end being pivotably coupled to the body and a step end being opposite the pivot end, the step end having a recessed portion for assisting the pivoting of the lever between the raised position and lowered position.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein, after the removing step, the lever is pivoted back to the raised position.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein, during the pivoting step, the lever is moved past a tab which extends from one of the side walls of the body.
 14. A container assembly, comprising: a housing having an open end and a closed end; and a device for aiding the removal of a bag from the interior of the housing, the device comprising: a body that is removably coupled to the housing; and a lever being pivotably coupled to the body, wherein the lever pivots between a raised position in which the lever is disposed substantially parallel to the body and a lowered position in which the lever has pivoted away from the body.
 15. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein the body further comprises at least one wall that includes a tab for securing the lever in the raised position.
 16. The container assembly of claim 14, further comprising a rivet for pivotably coupling the lever to the body.
 17. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein the device further comprises an adhesive tape for removably mounting the body to the housing.
 18. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein the device further comprises a magnet for removably mounting the body to the housing.
 19. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein the device comprises a plurality of devices for aiding the removal of the bag from the interior of the housing.
 20. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein the lever comprises a pivot end being pivotably coupled to the body and a step end being opposite the pivot end, the step end having a recessed portion for assisting the pivoting of the lever between the raised position and lowered position. 